Process of treating used lubricants.



vcitizen of the J' O, HANDY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA,

AssIsNon ro frrr'rsB neH 'rns'r- ING LABORATORY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIAL :No Drawing. Application fl1edJu1y-5,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Jules O. HANDY, a -United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the .county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have and. useful Improvement in Processes of Treating Used Lubricants, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

invention is designed to provide a My cheap, simple and effective process by which used lubricants, such, for example, as those bodies which have been used in lubricating explosive engines, maybe regenerated.

These used oils or lubricants usually contain tarry or asphaltic material produced by oxidation during service, and usually acid and unsaturated hydrocarbonsformed by exposure to heatand air.

In carrying out my process, in its preferred form, I first dissolve the used oil, previously clarified to some extent by settling or by centrifuging, in a hydrocarbon solvent, such as petrolic naphtha or gasolene. The solvent is preferably-in large volume proportionate to the amount of oil, for example, four times as much gasolene as used oil. This mixture is then preferably shaken with bone-black, fullers earth, or similar material, the latter being referably about one-eighth of the mixture y. weight. Th sediment or solid impurities contained are or equivalent action. Filtering is'f'preferable on account of its cheapness, 'andflithis treatment removes the tarry or asphaltic materials, including any coloring matters, the particles of boneblack or clay 'ex'i'ting an on, known as adsorption. -The remaining solution is next treated with a two per cent. solution of caustic soda (sodium hydroxid) to neutralize theacid bodies. The caustic "soda-is then separated and the oil solution washed with water to remove the traces of reagent and purify the solution. The gasolene or other solvent is then. distilled off, leaving the oil 'or lubricant of the same viscosity or body. as the original oil, and 0f a satisfactory color.

The dissolving .of the oil' or lubricant in hydrocarbon solvent is important since thereby-the chemicals used are prevented from acting so violently as to destroy or affeet the quality of the oil. By thustreating the dissolved oil or lubricant with the chemispecification of Letters Patent.

1917; seal-m. 178,805.

invented a new.

- as the final step of tain types of used lubricants.

attraction there rnoonss or 'rnnn'rme USED .nusnrcnn'rs.

Patented Oct. 15, 1918.

cals, in quality to the original oil, and the amount 'lost by the refining treatment does not usually exceed ten per cent.

The advantages of my invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art, since a comparatively cheap, simple and efl'ective method is provided for recovering waste lubricants and restoring them. a

The bleaching or decolorizing, which is preferably carried out by shaking with bone-black, fullers earth, "or similar-material, and then filtering, may be carried out g the process;and in my claims, which include this bleaching or decolorizing, I' do not consider myself limited to the steps in the specific order recited, as the decolorizing may be carried out either as above described or as a final step.

This process is particularly adapted for: 7-5

used oils of such a nature that the acid step recited in my co-pending application, Serial No. 170,572, filedMay 23, 1917, for process of' treating used lubricants, is unnecessary. The present process may be successfully used, for example, Where the oil has not been used to such an extent, or does not contain such a mixture, that the acid step -is necessary. In other Words, I have'found that the acid step is not necessary in the case of cer- "Iclaim: o 1. In the method of treating used lubricants, the steps consisting of dissolving the lubricant in a hydrocarbon solvent, removingthe'colorin matter by adsorption, then treating 'the so ution with alkali, and then removing the solvent, substantially 'as described. A y I v 2. In the method of treatingused lubricants, the steps consistingof' dissolving the lubricant in a hydrocarbon solvent, removing the solid suspended matters, decolorizingthe solution by adsorption, then v treating the solution with an alkali, and ing the solvent, substantially as described.

In the method of treating used lubricants, the steps consisting of clarifying the used lubricant, dissolving it in a hydrocarbon solvent, decolorizing the solution by ad- 105 sorption, and then treating the solution with an alkali, substantially as described.

4. In the methodof treating used lubricants, the steps consisting of clarifying the used lubricant, dissolving it in a 'hydrocar- 11( he recovered oil is substantially equal then removbon solvent, decolorizing the solution by adsorption, then treating the solution with an sorption, and then treatln the solution with alkali, washing the solution, and then rea caustic alkali, substantlally as described. moving the solvent, substantially .as de 1 0 5.- In the method of treatmg used lubriscribed. t v ,5 cants, the steps consisting of'clarifying the In testimony whereof I have hereunto set used lubricant, dissolving it in a hydrocarmy hand. v bon solvent, decolorizing the solution by ad- JAMES O. HANDY. 

